By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
With the country in the grips of excessive heat in recent days, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has some tips to stay cool during extreme temperatures.
Stay indoors as much as possible. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine, PAGASA said.
(ALI VICOY / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The weather bureau also recommended wearing lightweight and light-colored clothing.
Drink plenty of water regularly as the body needs water to keep cool. It is also the safest liquid to drink during heat emergencies. Avoid drinking liquor because it dehydrates the body, PAGASA said.
It also advised the public to eat frequent small meals. Avoid eating food high in protein as it can increase metabolic heat.
PAGASA expects that warm and humid weather may persist in the coming days due the ridge of high pressure area extending across Northern and Central Luzon and the easterlies affecting the rest of the country.
These weather systems could bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers over most of the country on Thursday.
Weather specialist Ariel Rojas said PAGASA is monitoring a low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine area of responsibility or about 1,640 kilometers east-southeast of General Santos City on Wednesday morning.
The weather disturbance has a slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone but will likely to enter the country's area of responsibility by Friday, he said.
Rojas added that the LPA is forecast to move northwest towards the Caraga Region. He advised the public to continue monitoring updates regarding this weather disturbance.
Based on the PAGASA's historical data, at least one or two tropical cyclones usually form in May.